The music stopped and for a split second there was overwhelming silence. Then rapturous applause broke out as Robert and his stunning dance partner drank in the praise of an excellent dance. Cora tried to get her breathing under control as Robert led her off the dance floor. At least she would be spared watching any more of that, but the alternative brewing before her suddenly made her feel very faint. Robert was leading his partner straight towards his family and only Rosamund was not looking at all pleased as she shot silent daggers at her brother.

Standing tensely on the other side of the room, Cora witnessed her lover introduce the mystery woman to his parents, both of whom responded much too friendly for Cora's liking. She had at least thought she could bank on Lady Grantham to be as civil as she always was to her in the past but instead she seemed very much on the same page as her husband and apparently Rosamund had noticed this peculiar behavior too. Her polarizing gaze now swept between her brother and her Mama as she engaged the young woman in conversation.

Turning her attention back to Robert she felt as though he'd slapped her in the face. His eyes were blatantly wondering over the curves of her body and his expression was exultant. He looked like the cat that got the crème brûlée as he waded into the conversation with the ladies. Cora could take no more. She quickly turned away from them even as she caught a glimpse of Robert kissing the other woman's hand. Walking very purposefully through the room she began an anxious search for her hosts in order to thank them and say her farewells. Mercifully, she didn't have to look for long and hurried over to them and the acquaintance they were engaged with.

"Excuse me Lady Lincoln," Cora chimed in.

"Lady Durham, are you having an enjoyable evening?" her counterpart enquired.

"It has been a lovely evening," Cora gushed through gritted teeth. "But alas, I feel I am quite worn out and shall retire."

"Oh that is such a shame my dear. Thank you for coming and I'll write to you soon."

"Thank you for such a wonderful night Lady Lincoln and I apologize for interrupting," she said as Lord Lincoln nodded to her. Giving them one last smile she turned and headed for the entrance.

"Rosamund have you seen Cora?" Robert asked as he walked with his sister leisurely around the ballroom.

"Finally woken up to the fact she still exists have you?" Rosamund replied crudely.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"She was watching you and Lady Emma the whole time you were dancing Robert, and when you brought her over to meet us. I saw how it pained her but of course you didn't because you were so busy ogling Princess Sugar in front of you."

"Reign in your tongue sister, we are in public!" Robert rallied, even as he inwardly blanched at his sister's harsh words.

"I don't care about that little brother. What I care about is that young woman who I suspect left the biggest ball of the season to nurse a wounded heart." Robert flinched as Rosamund came to a halt in the back of the room. Her stare was withering but not enough to break him.

"Now see here. What you don't know is Cora and I had a discussion about this some weeks ago where I raised the idea of pretending to take interest in other potential suitors before I started courting her openly. That way, it would throw any unwanted gossipers off the scent of the whole story and make it easier for our mother to accept among other things. That is exactly what I was doing tonight so I will thank you not to press me further on this subject," Robert said sternly.

"And you expect me to believe that you were only acting with that woman tonight." Shaking her head at her brother she disappeared back into the throngs of people leaving Robert seething in emotional stew.

5 days later

The room was bathed in sunlight as Cora sat quietly on a settee by the window, book in hand. Though her eyes were directed at the page, she did not see it. Instead, images of Robert and that golden-haired woman danced in front of her eyes incessantly, mocking her. Robert had not contacted her since the ball and it shook her to the core to think of him calling on that other woman and enjoying her obviously amiable company while she sat in a room alone with no family and barely any friends in a foreign country.

Perhaps I was wrong about everything? Cora thought warily yet again. Robert had done so much for her over the past summer and whenever she thought about it all in minute detail his affections for her seemed so real. But Cora now found herself incapable of doubting if it had all been for show. Don't be ridiculous, the small voice in inside her head chided her. Surely Robert had no motive to lead her on when he was such a genuine, kind-hearted gentleman for a start. Unless…

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Quickly calming her increasingly agitated heart, Cora gazed at the door expectantly.

"Come in," she called. Miss Lacombe appeared on the threshold.

"Excuse me Milady but His Lordship is here to see you." Cora's eyes widened as she fought to visibly hide her discomfort. Five days and he had finally decided to show his face to her, and without warning no less.

"Very well Miss Lacombe, send him in." Her blood pumped wildly in her head as she heard familiar footsteps approach her sanctuary and she readied herself for a difficult conversation.

Cora was sure she must have blinked because Robert was by her side in no time.

"Would you like me to bring anything Milady?" Miss Lacombe asked. Cora glanced at Robert questioningly and he shook his head.

"No thank you Miss Lacombe, that will be all."

Cora waited until her maid had shut the door behind her and her footsteps had faded away before fixing Robert with a penetrating stare.

"Where have you been?" she asked icily, not bothering with any pleasantries.

"Cora, I've been busy. Mama has kept me on the run with family affairs ever since the ball. I've wanted to see you but she had always conjured up something that kept me from you." Robert was already starting to feel exasperated as he watched her tense in front of him.

"Since when have you let her dictate you so much? You certainly didn't allow it only a few weeks ago."

"She doesn't dictate me."

"What do you call it then?"

"I was pacifying her so she would stay off my case about you!" Robert said, his voice rising unintentionally.

"Me? Why?" Robert sighed and turned away from her.

"She wasn't very pleased to see you when I brought you over to meet Papa that night. She told me to have nothing more to do with you because you were shrouded in questionable circumstances." Cora's eyes widened.

"Robert you know there is no such thing," Cora protested.

"You make it sound as if I didn't already know that Cora!" Robert rounded on her, his face contorted with distress. "What I do not understand however, is why you left suddenly without seeing me beforehand? Or even Rosamund for that matter."

"I'm not at your beck and call Robert. And when I saw you with that woman, it hurt me in a way I never knew was possible," Cora strained. Her throat was becoming increasingly tight as she began to feel the first pangs of a headache.

"She means nothing to me!"

"That's not the way it looked Robert! I saw the way you were basking in her company." Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at the man she loved.

"Cora I was indulging Lady Emma as society would expect of me after a dance."

"But it wasn't just one dance was it? It was two."

"Does it matter?" Robert replied in annoyance.

"It matters to me," she said simply.

"Why? Cora what is going on with you?" Robert frowned as he watched the first of her tears taint her rose-tinged cheeks.

"When you suggested to me at the inn that we take an interest in others first I remember rejecting that notion profusely. I thought we had agreed that it would not happen," Cora croaked.

"Cora I never-"

"Or have you conveniently forgotten that day?" she cried.

"Of course I haven't," he snapped.

"Then why did you do it?" she sniffled.

"I can hardly be expected to shirk every other woman in society when they think I am an eligible bachelor!" Robert groaned.

"So you would rather adhere to societies' expectations than respect my wishes then. I thought you loved me too much to cave in to such trivial matters." Cora studied him with a pained expression.

"I do love you. Please try to see reason though," Robert implored. "For me," he added as an afterthought.

"Will you see that, what was her name?"

"Lady Emma, eldest daughter of the Earl of Surrey."

"Will you see her again?" Cora pressed nervously.

"Mama has already seen to it that we spent the week together so I imagine so," he owned.

"That's what kept you from me?" Cora gasped as her worst case scenario formed in front of her as it had done earlier.

"I already told you, I was pacifying Mama." Robert was now becoming very worried as a sob escaped Cora's throat. "Cora?"

"What has happened to the strong and capable gentleman I fell in love with?" she wailed, distraught. "In the past you've always been in control of your own future and you've taken care of me and now you are worried about unimportant little things in life."

"If I did not have attention to detail, our situation might be completely different right now," he pointed out, willing himself to remain calm, to think straight. "Remember when I offered Durham my help as a guise to protect you? Or what about lying to Mama for weeks so I could be with you? Or have you forgotten?"

"That was different."

"Not that I can see. I was throwing them off the scent just as I am now by humouring Mama with Lady Emma and putting on a show for society over her." Robert paused, taking a deep breath and hoping desperately that Cora would finally see sense.

"I have a headache." Robert did a double take as Cora sank into the chair behind her.

"I'm sorry," he murmured. He was quite sure he was partly responsible for it as they had been arguing for some time now. "Can I get you anything? Water perhaps?"

"I need time to think. Please leave," Cora whispered, her head in her hands and her heart breaking at the thought of pushing him away. Robert stepped towards her.

"I don't want to leave you," Robert said softly.

"Please! I am so confused and need to work my way through it, alone." Robert flinched and backed away uncertainly as Cora breathed heavily in front of him. Slowly, he turned away.

A/N So sorry for the delay. I'm begging indulgence for a good cause as it was my new Cobert video that distracted me. There is a link on my profile page if you want to see it. Also, we've all seen Robert being a whiny boy many times right (ahem Seasons 2 &3)? Well I know women are capable of complaining too... Please review the chapter, thanks!